Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara will arrive in Russia tomorrow as the territorial dispute between Russia and Japan continues to escalate. The Foreign Minister continues to refer to the Southern Kuril Islands as native Japanese land and claims that Russia's retention of them contravenes international law. At the same time, he expects to promote bilateral relations and an increase in trade.
Russia responded to the nationalist Japanese demonstrations in Tokyo this week with an announcement by President Dmitry Medvedev to deploy additional weapons on the islands. "The additional weapons to be deployed there must be sufficient and modern, in order to ensure the security of the islands as an integral part of Russia," Medvedev told the Russian defense minister in a meeting. Russia's presidential elections will be held next year and Medvedev has an interest in appearing tough.
The Japanese Foreign Minister retorted "Regardless of how many (Russian) senior officials go there and who goes there, and whether it increases or decreases its military presence, the legal value (of Russia's claim) does not change," he said.
"Our resolve remains absolutely unwavering."
The independent Japanese Asahi Shimbun, while agreeing that Russia's behavior was a "reckless attempt to railroad through recognition of Russian sovereignty", also believed that the crisis symbolized the drift of Japan's Russian diplomacy. Both sides had committed themselves to solving the problem via negotiation, but in the absence of meetings between the leaders of the two countries, problems and issues of common interest were allowed to languish.
The Russian foreign affairs commentator Fyodor Lukyanov, writing for Novosti claims that the current tension was the result of a neophyte Japanese Democratic Party Government in power for the first time, that has made a series of mistakes and whose standings in the polls is at low ebb.
"The more domestic and foreign policy mistakes the party makes, the stronger its desire to compensate for the damage it has caused to Japan’s prestige with bold gestures and displays of toughness. But Prime Minister Kan’s tough talk is unlikely to achieve anything. Even Japanese politicians who favor a hard line toward Moscow are at a loss over his cabinet’s unpredictable moves."
Lukyanov also had criticism for his country. Russia's claim would be stronger if in addition to weapons deployment, it did something about the deplorable socio-economic conditions in the islands. Dmitry Medvedev announced his intentions to do so and Russia plans to cooperate with South Korean firms in developing the area.
Meanwhile, in Russia, pro-government and nationalist demonstrators retaliated against the Japanese anti-Russian demonstrations. The nationalist Liberal Democratic Party came up with an interesting suggestion: a boycott of Japanese restaurants and Japanese cuisine. In addition to striking a blow for national pride, they said it would also improve the health of the Russian citizens.
While Japanese raw fish was treated and fresh in Japanese eateries, in Russia, until the fish got the market they tend to develop bacteria. "Russia has opened many Japanese restaurants, where our citizens are sometimes poisoned. We promote Japanese food, and in return get rudeness ."
Not to be outdone by the Liberal Democrats members of the ruling United Russia Party, Young Guards picketed the Japanese Embassy holding maps and history books. The Liberal Democrats were more inventive and presented the Japanese with a bucket full of Russian Earth claiming that this was all they were going to get of Russian soil.